Fabric



Aprii 18, 1939- c. T. GRAHAM 2,155,127

FABRIC Original Filed Feb. 2', 1935 INVENTOR Clarence I graham QMT/ LW/ ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 18, 1939 FABRIC Clarence T. Graham. North Attleboro, Mass.,assigner, by mesne assignments, to Defiance Manufacturing Company, Barrowsville, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Original application February 2, 1935, Serial No.

4,643. Divided and this application August 23, 1938, Serial No. 226,238

, 1 Claim.

This is a division of my co-pending application Serial Number 4,643, filed February 2, 1935.

My invention'relates tov a novel type of fabric,

preferably one having uniformly dyed or finished portions by selecting the fabric threads relative to their absorbing qualities in the preparation of the fabric, the concentration and the nature of the liquid dyeing or finishing materials applied, the arc of contact of the fabric upon the 5', ground threads and raised pattern-forming or applying roller, the speed of the fabric passing 5 figure portions on the face of saidground threads, over the roller, and by correctly timing or .varysaid raised pattern-forming or figure portions ing the time interval between the period of conbeing undyed or unfinished or differently dyed or tact 0f the fabric with the roller surface and the finished from said uniformly dyed or finished subsequent initiation of drying the fabric after ground threads. contact with the roller. I 10 My invention is particularly adapted for use In producing my improved fabric by the methin making the now popular fabric having uni- 0d disclosed, I preferably provide said improved formly dyed or finished ground threads and rovapparatus with drying means located the desired ing dots simultaneously woven with and onthe amount behind said roller to receive said fabric 16 face of said ground threads, sheared and undyed in sheet form fromsaid roller, and I preferably, or unfinished or differently dyed or finished from loosely mount said roller on or adjacent a tank said simultaneously woven ground threads. for holding the liquid dy finishing mate- Heretofore in finishing, dyeing or printing fabrial, preferably so as to have a portion of the rics of the above type, it has been difiicult 0r periphery thereof immersed in said liquid ma- 20 impossible to prevent any finish or color applied terial to s pp y 011 o a thereOf a film 0f 821101.20 to the background from penetrating the raised liquid material on the periphery of Said roller t0 figure or pattern, resulting in more or less uniapply to the re rs of sai fabric n p phe formity or sameness in color or finish in both the Conta t erewithbackground and the raised figure portions. I also provide means to feed the fabric in sheet as In producing my fabric by the method disclosed, form t bring the reverse thereof in p rip r I take a cloth preferably woven with a. backcontact with said roller, and I preferably drive gr und and having raised figure or pattern por- 'said'roller by the frictional contact of the reverse tions on the face, preferably woven simulta eof said fabric thereby to rotate said roller to pick ously with said background and prepared in any up said film of liquid material from the liquid 8 0 of the usual manners for dyeing or finishing such yeing 0r finishing material contained in said as by bleaching, mercerizing, washing, drying, nk- I may th s by p in means to Vary dyeing, etc., the entire fabric. This results in th sp d of th dryin m ans va y th speed f giving the desired finish to the raised portions. said fabric over said roller. In order to provide 7 The prepared fabric is then passed, figure ide a device wherein the time interval between the 85 upwards, over a roller or similar. device, the peline 9 Peripheral 0011mm 0 the fabric and ripheral surface of which is covered with a film t e roller and e po ti drying initiation Of of a dyeing or finishing liquid in such a manner said drying 11188118, be Varied, I Preferably that only the background of the fabric contacts pr v an appara us w e the nk is an'd absorbs the finish or color from the roller. b e a ve toi m t on of dryin initiation to Then, before the finish or color can penetrate f said dryin m ans additionally regulate-the 40 the raised figure or pattern on the face of the amount of s id liquid ia p e a ed fabric, it is quickly driedwithout permitting the the reverse of the fabric. face side of the fabric to touch any contaminated These and Su h other j cts of my i vent n surface. If desired, the time duration of contact as hereinafter m y pp ll be est un erof the surface of the fabric with the roller, and st od from a d s r pti n of h ac o pa yin 45 the initiation of the drying may be varied t drawing which illustrates an embodiment of my affect the degree of penetration of thefinish or i p fabric and a Suitable pp s for dye into the raised portions and, if desired, permanufacture.

, mit a partial penetration to the raised portions n'th w so to partially finish or dye them in a different man- Fi ure 1 is a d mm v i nal vi w ner from the finish or dye applied to the backpa t y S w in Section Of a Suitabie t p o ground. apparatus for manufacturing my improved novel My improved fabric may be produced by varyfabric. ing the degree of penetration into said raised Figure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1; B5

Figure 3 is. a plan view of my improved type of fabric.

In the drawing, wherein like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout, iii generally indicates an improved type of fabric constructed in accordance with my invention. Said fabric includes the ground l2 and the raised pattern-forming or figure portions M on the face thereof. While any type of a fabric l having the ground l2 and raised pattern-forming or figure portions l4 may be employed whether laced, braided, woven, or otherwise, I preferably employ a woven fabric l0 woven from the usual warp and filling threads and with the raised pattern-forming or figure threads on the face thereon usually woven, twisted, braided, or otherwise formed simultaneously therewith. The pattern-forming threads may be interwoven at desired intervals with the ground threads and the portions between said interwoven portions sheared or otherwise removed as is common in fabrics of this description to form the raised pattern-forming or figure portions l4 on the face thereof. The entire ground l2 including the interwoven warp and filling threads where-woven is preferably piece dyed or piece finished in my novel manner to have the ground threads thereof uniformly dyed or finished. without substantially affecting or differently affecting said raised pattern-forming or figure portions.

I have shown as my improved embodiment of fabric, a fabric of the roving dot type wherein the dots are suitably bleached, mercerized and dried initially with the ground of the fabric in a piece bleaching, piece mercerizing, piece dyeing and/or piece drying operation, and in my preferred embodiment are preferably finished so as to bringout the natural fiuffiness in the dots l4.

Woven cloth having the raised figure or pattern forming portions [4 on the face ii thereof is prepared in any of the usual manners for dyeing or finishing, such as by bleaching, mercerizing, tinting, washing and/or drying the entire fabric including the ground i 2 and the raised figure or pattern portions [4 to give the desired finish to said raised portions if they are to be unaffected in my improved process. If desired, however, particularly if the pattern forming portions are to be partially finished or dyed, the fabric may be treated by my improved method in the gray state. The gray or prepared fabric, according to -my improved method, is then passed with the face I upwards over a roller 20 to bring the reverse I! thereof into peripheral contact with the roller or similar rotating device 20, the peripheral surface of which is covered with a solution of a color or finish or both in such a manner that the reverse of the fabric contacts and absorbs the finish or color on the roller, permitting the finish or color to only penetrate the background without any substantial penetration into the raised pattern-forming or figure portions or with a different degree of penetration thereof from the penetration thereof in the background and then before the finish or color can be absorbed by the raised figure or pattern portion on the face of the fabric at all or in alimited predetermined degree, quickly drying the fabric preferably without permitting the face of 'the fabric to touch any contaminated surfaces. The depth of the penetration of the liquid or finishing material into the thickeror raised pattern-forming or figure portions on the face of the fabric may be affected by (1) regulating the selection of the materials of said fabric relative to their absorbing qualities,

(2) varying the concentration and nature of the finishing or dyeing materials applied, (3) varying the time duration of contact of said liquid material with the reverse of the fabric, and, (4) varying the time duration between the line or arc of contact of said material with said reverse of said fabric and the initiation of the; drying of the fabric. If the fabric isfdried substantially immediately, it is apparent that there will be no substantial penetration of the raised patternforming or figure portions l4 on the face. If not dried quite so soon, said dyeing or finishing materials may penetrate the portions immediately adjacent the ground to produce the daisy effect shown in Figure 3, wherein the central portions 22 of the dots i4 are slightly dyed, thus producing a partial dyeing or finishing of portions or all of the raised pattern-forming or'figure portions on the face of the fabric. If desired, a colored background of a different shade than the previously colored raised pattern or figure on the face may be provided or one in which the depth of shades thereof maybe varied. It may produce a stiffened background, leaving the raised figure or pattern on the face soft. It may produce color and stiffness in the background with the figure on the face uncqlored and soft or differently predyed or prefinished, or differently simultaneously dyed or finished. It will permit the application of mordants, lustering or delustering agents or any other textile finishing agent to the ground, leaving the raised figure or pattern on the face unaffected or affected in a lesser degree to produce a different effect. a

In the embodiment of the method and apparatus for forming my improved fabric shown, I rotate a roller 20 by any suitable means, apply a film 24 of liquid finishing or dyeing material to the periphery of the roller 20, preferably by rotating a roller 20 immersed in liquid dyeing or finishing material 26 contained in a suitable tank 28 to draw on the rotation thereof a film 24 of said liquid dyeing or finishing material 26 from said tank 28. The gray fabric 30 or fabric 30 previously treated all over to provide a desired finish to the raised figure or pattern-forming portions 14 thereof is drawn in sheet form from a source of sheet form supply such as the roller 32 over the surface 34 of said roller 20 to feed said film of liquid material 24 on the reverse l8 of said fabric by peripheral line or are contact of the periphery of said roller 20 with the reverse ll of, said fabric. The fabric iii may be drawn in continuous form over said roller 20 in peripheral contact therewith in any suitable manner such as by the driving means 36 of a suitable drying means 38 which functions not only to draw the fabric Hi over said roller 20 but to rotate the roller 20 by peripheral contact of the fabric therewith to rotate said roller to cause it to receive the film 24 of liquid dyeing or finishing material on the periphery thereof and applying it as at 34 to the reverse ill of said continuous sheet of fabric in.

While any suitable type of apparatus may be employed for carrying out my process of producing my improved fabric, I have shown a novel type of apparatus for this purpose, including in subcombination a roller 20, means to rotate said roller 20, and means for applying a film 24 of liquid dyeing or finishing material to the rotating peripheral surface of said roller 20. I provide means such. as a cloth roll 32 to feed fabric in sheet form to bring the reverse i8 thereof into peripheral contact with said roller, and as the roller is rotated in any suitable manner, to apply the film 24 to the reverse of said moving fabric. I also provide in combination therewith means adjustably mounted adjacent said roller to abut the face N5 of said fabric in front of said roller 20 to vary the arc 34 of peripheral contact thereof therewith and hence the time duration of said peripheral contact. The apparatus hitherto described, I believe, is novel per se in subcombination.

I preferably, however,iprovide a device hitherto described in combination with a suitable drying means 38, preferably including means 36 to grip the fabric to drive it therethrough, to form a positive drive for the fabric from said source of supply 32 into peripheral contact with said roller 20 as at 34 and I obtain best results by loosely mounting said roller 20 adjacent or on said tank 28 in a loose manner to permit peripheral contactv 0f the fabric with the roller 20 to rotate said roller to draw the film 24 from the liquid 26 to apply it on the reverse I8 of the fabric. It is obvious, however, that if desired, a uniform or substantially uniform film or supply of liquid may be applied to the reverse of the fabric in any suitable manner such as by painting, spraying, or otherwise, but I have obtained best results by first applying the film to the peripheral surface of a rotatable roller 20 and evenly transferring said film 24 from said surface 20 onto the reverse 3 of said fabric. While the film 24 may be applied to the surface of said roller in any suitable manner as by spraying, dipping, or otherwise, I have attained best results by immersing the lower portion of the roller in the dyeing or finishing liquid 26 contained within the tank 28 and by rotating the roller 20 by the peripheral contact of the fabric passing thereover. With the drying means driving means 36 pulling the fabric over the roller 20 from the source of supply 32, it is apparent that the speed of the driving means 36 will automatically regulate the speed of the roller 20 and it will not be necessary to synchronize two different speeds to prevent piling up or thinness of the film in spots were the roll 20 separately driven. The driver 38 may comprise drying means of the usual type of tenter frame which positively grips the selvages of the fabric and pulls itfrom the roll 32 over the roller 20. It is obvious that any suitable type of drying means may be employed, preferably one which will simultaneously pull the cloth. I provide suitable means to vary the speed of rotation of said roller or driving means of said roller and, in my preferred embodiment, said driving means comprising the driving means 36 of the drying means 38 employed which may be varied in any well known manner as in the various types of driving means for drying cans or tenter frames employed today.

. I also preferably provide means to vary the time interval or duration of the are 34 of contact of the reverse i8 of said fabric with the periphery of the roller 20. In my preferred embodiment, said means comprisesv the horizontally mounted roller or bar suitably mounted in the trunnions 42 vertically adiustably mounted in the vertical slots 44 of the supporting brackets 46 mounted on each side of said tank 28 (see Figure 2), said roller or bar being vertically adjustable up and down within said slots 44 by means of screws 48 passing through suitable holes in the upper ends of said brackets 46, with the lower ends. 50 there- 1 of abutting said trunnions 42 and the upper ends provided with the rotatable hand wheels 52. It is obvious that by rotation of hand wheels 52, may the bar 40 be vertically adjustably mounted adjacent or on said tank 28 to abut the face I6 of said fabric in front of said roller 20 to vary the are 34 of peripheral contact of said reverse l8 with the periphery of said roller 20 and hence the time duration of said peripheral contact. It is thus apparent that the amount of penetration of said liquid into said fabric may be additionally varied by varying the arc of contact 34 of the reverse of said fabric l8 with said roller 20. To further vary the degree of penetration, the tank 28 may be movable over the surface of fioor 54 relative to the portion of initiation of drying of said drying means 38 to vary the time interval between said are of contact 34 and the time of drying initiation of said drying means to additionally regulate the amount of said liquid material impregnated on thereverse of the fabric.

The bath of drying or finishing material may be made up in any desiied manner, any suitable direct colors or otherwise.

It is also-apparent in employing my improved method and apparatus that the degree of penetration of the dye or finish from the reverse through the figure or pattern-forming portions l4 may be so regulated as to not dye or finish said portions l4 at all, to dye or finish portions thereof only partially or entirely or to partially dye or finish the entire portions in a diflerent degree from the ground l2.

It is apparent, therefore, that I have provided a novel type of fabric.

It is understood that my invention is not limited to the specific embodiment shown or method described and that various deviations may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

As a new article of manufacture, a finished woven textile fabric including a plain, relatively open mesh ground, raised pattern or figure forming portions on the face of said ground constituted by rovings-having bight portions interengaged with threads of said ground, said rovings having end portions in a generally upstanding attitude above the fabric ground and said end CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 2,155,127. April 1 19 9'.

-CLARENCE 'I'. GRAHAM.

It is, hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5 second column, line 611,, in the claim, 'after the word "fabric" strike out the comma; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and' sealed this 13th day of.June, A. D. 1959.

Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

